Josh Whitfield is a husband, a father of four and a relentlessly good-natured priest beloved by the parishioners at Dallas' St. Rita Catholic Community.
(RNS) — Francis appears to have feared splitting the church over the question of celibacy.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The former pope asked to be dropped as co-author of a book, due out in February that appears to disagree with Francis on priestly celibacy, according to an aide.
(RNS) — The American Catholic hierarchy isn't ready to follow the synod's search for real-world solutions. Too many conservatives believe that if we simply return to the old ways of doing things, everything will be fine.
(RNS) — The bishops, under the leadership of Pope Francis, have once again found their prophetic voice, at least in the Amazon.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — The synod's final recommendations to the pope could have profound impact not only on the Amazon but the entire church.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — One participant reported that only a couple of the 185 assembled bishops spoke against the idea during the first week of the synod.
VATICAN CITY (RNS) — As the Vatican inches closer to a gathering of bishops to discuss the Amazon region, key players vie to frame the main issues likely to emerge at the Oct. 6-27 event, from the need for further involvement of women to the possibility of ordaining married men.
(RNS) — Priests are hot, from TV's 'Fleabag' to the ubiquitous 'Hot Priest' calendars, but it's not just that they are forbidden. It's that they are coming out of their usual unapproachable roles.
(RNS) — Limiting ordination after marriage to 'mature men' will be portrayed as exceptional, but both traditionalists and progressives believe that it will spread to more and more situations.
(RNS) — In The Atlantic, James Carroll asserts that abolishing the priesthood in the Catholic Church is the only way to defeat the clericalism he blames for the sex abuse crisis. But as in other revolutions, a new cadre would simply replace the old guard.
(RNS) — Consistent with his earlier writings about the priesthood, Francis' latest pronouncement is more about celibacy than homosexuality.
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) — Attracted by the prospect of serving God while raising a family, Catholic priests have left the mainstream faith for the Renewed Universal Catholic Church.
(RNS) — Where many conservative Christian leaders denounce LGBT identity, many are unwilling to do the relational work of walking alongside same-sex-attracted Christians as they attempt a very difficult thing: lifelong celibacy.
(RNS) — Cardinal Sean O’Malley acknowledged this week that the church needs clearer norms and procedures for investigating and judging bishops. But O’Malley’s statement only raises further questions.
